Gun owner cites his support for new firearms law

Here are a few reasons why I voted for the recent ballot measure Initiative 594.

Thanks to all the thinking individuals who did the same.

Eight youth killed a day on the average.

Current background check system only applies to 60 percent of sales.

Firearm homicide is the second leading cause of death behind auto accidents for children under age 20.

A gun in a home is 22 times more likely to be used to kill or injure in a domestic homicide, suicide or unintended shooting than to be used in self-defense.

U.S. firearm homicide rate is 20 times greater than the combined rates of 22 countries that are our peers in wealth and population. Nine out of ten Americans agree that we should have universal background checks, including 3 out of 4 NRA members.

On average, every day 51 people kill themselves with a firearm and 45 are shot or killed accidentally with a gun.

Since the Brady Law was passed, about 2 million attempts to purchase firearms have been blocked due to background checks. About half of those were attempts by felons.

I love this country and I am the owner of multiple firearms (no AK-47s or riot guns). I have no paranoid fear that some government agent will appear at my door demanding my guns. In fact I would gladly register each and every one of them if it were beneficial in limiting the senseless slaughter occurring in this country.

John W. Matzinger

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